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We Should’ve Known Better with the Spurs By Alden Gonzalez
12.17.2008 - Updated on 12.17.2008
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Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Going into the season, the San Antonio Spurs were an afterthought in the Western Conference. We thought, after they came up short the previous year, that the Spurs were too old and their time to dominate the NBA was over. But, as the season progressed, we were proven wrong, and San Antonio was once again a legitimate factor in the NBA.
Sound familiar?
Well, maybe that’s because it’s happened every single year since Tim Duncan and David Robinson were doing shaving commercials, Avery Johnson was directing offenses with the ball in his hands and Sean Elliot was hitting clutch 3-pointers.
Ever since the franchise took home its first championship in 1999, despite what fans said – or wanted to believe – going into a season, the Spurs have been right there among the game’s elite.
And they never go away. That’s why I consider them the cockroaches of the NBA (which may explain their incredibly bland all-black uniforms).
Maybe they’re always picked to fall off because they’re just not exciting enough.
Maybe Duncan’s game is too perfect, Gregg Popovich’s postgame press conferences are too boring and the rest of its stars are not American enough – or at all.
Whatever it is, year in and year out, we think the Spurs have met their demise. Then –like those two-to-three-inch black, prehistoric creatures that walk your hallways in the middle of the night and scare the bejesus out of you when you go into the kitchen for a midnight snack – they come right back just when you thought you’ve killed them off.
This year is no different
At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, we had more reason to believe the Spurs’ run would come to an end than ever.
San Antonio had just come off losing a five-game series in the Western Conference Finals to a Los Angeles Lakers team that, with Andrew Bynum healthy, looked to be even better for the following year. And before the season even started, star shooting guard Manu Ginobili was guaranteed to miss nearly a month of the regular season.
Those thoughts heightened immensely when, with the Spurs already struggling to a 1-3 record to start the season, star point guard Tony Parker was expected to miss two-to-four weeks when he suffered a sprained left ankle on Nov. 7.
That’s it, right?
Season over. The West is too good, and the Spurs are too banged up.
But did we forget Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time?
Like a true legend should, “The Big Fundamental” held down the fort until his two star teammates returned, and he is currently averaging 21 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game.
Not only that, but now, Ginobili and Parker are back. And just like every year in recent memory, the Spurs are a scary team.
Since Nov. 21, the Spurs have won 10 of 12 games and are now sitting pretty with the fourth-best record in the West at 15-8. And they haven’t been getting fat on a soft schedule, either. Included in that 12-game run are home wins against the Jazz and Hawks, and road wins against the Nuggets, Mavericks and Rockets.
Lakers’ biggest challengers
But despite San Antonio’s recent success and previous championship allure, we all know who the team to beat in the West will be this year – the Lakers.
Are the Spurs good enough to take down Los Angeles this season? I don’t think so.
But I do believe they are the team with the best chance of doing so not named the Boston Celtics.
Crazy, right?
The Houston Rockets now have their own “Big Three,” the Denver Nuggets finally have a floor general in Chauncey Billups, the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks are full of All-Stars, and the Portland Trailblazers, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets have incredible amounts of youth and athleticism.
But the one thing that has made the Spurs so good over the years is the one thing that makes them better than all those aforementioned teams: consistency.
And going into these playoffs, San Antonio will have two things none of those squads possess: the experience of winning an NBA championship, and the cohesiveness of playing together.
Better than ever?
It also doesn’t hurt that I believe this Spurs team may be better than any other they’ve fielded since the new millennium.
Believe it or not, injuries to Parker and Ginobili may have been the best thing to happen to this team because, for the first time in a long time, the end of the bench had to step up and take a more definitive role.
And that proved to me that, for the first time in a long time, San Antonio has one of its deepest teams ever.
Roger Mason (13.3 points per game) has proven to be a great offseason acquisition, Matt Bonner (8.2 points, 4.7 rebounds per game) is finally starting to play with some confidence, 22-year-old George Hill (9.9 points, 3 assists per game) has been one of the more pleasant surprises on the Spurs’ roster, and even though Ime Udoka isn’t putting up the numbers this year, I’ve been impressed with his skill sets since he emerged with the Spurs after several stints in the NBA Development League.
Yes, Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Jacque Vaughn are aging gradually as you read this column, but they’ll be there come May and June.
Add those grizzly veterans, combine the young, upstart players and mix it all up with three stars who have proven they can lead teams to the Promised Land and what do you get?
The same thing you’ve been getting for almost a decade.
So why do we keep getting fooled? |
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Posted by
Manny Pacquiao
on 12.22.2008 | San Antonio Spurs have always been an underrated team. winning four championships is not even enough to make them a media darling. When they win their fifth championship this season, I bet the media will still talk about lebron, kobe, l.a fakers, and the celdicks. . | Posted by
bearclaw
on 12.21.2008 | Hey Tha French Truth, the lakers only won one title. In 2001-2002 season, Duncan was injured and did not play the entire playoffs. At that time the Spurs were the defending champs. In 2001-2002, the Kings won the series against the Lakers, but the referees, as Tim Donaughy stated, that the Kings were robbed in game six to force a game 7 for more bets and money for the NBA. Also the Lakers are always getting lucky like with Fisher’s shot, Manu’s injury, referree Dan Crawford cheating, and the Grizzlies giving away Gasol for nothing. The luck has run out for the Lakers, they will not become nor they are good enough to be the NBA Champions. I want the Celtics to win the championship this year but if I will choose between the Lakers and Spurs, I’d choose the Spurs to dominate the West and become the Western Conference Finals Champions. . | Posted by
SESSAH
on 12.21.2008 | TIM DUNCAN IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE FAKERS WITH KOBE AKA THE RAPIST WILL GET BAILED OUT AGAIN BY MANU’S INJURY AND CRAWFORD’S CHEATING IN NEXT YEAR’S PLAYOFFS. . | Posted by
Raspunzel
on 12.21.2008 | San Antonio Spurs WILL BEAT THE LAKERS in the 2008-2009 NBA playoffs! . | Posted by
Tarare
on 12.21.2008 | Go Spurs Go...Another championship season on the making. Celtics and Lakers got nothing on the Spurs! . | Posted by
Trivet
on 12.21.2008 | Spurs will win another championship. I am certain that at this moment in the playoffs the Spurs are the best in the West. They need to add more role players though to compete with the Celtics. . | Posted by
Ray Allen
on 12.19.2008 | The Lakers are playing lousy teams and will start losing anytime soon. The Spurs will definitely take the West. But I am not sure if they have enought to beat my Boston Celtics. . | Posted by
San Anton Fan
on 12.18.2008 | When no one mention the Spurs, they win the title. My mind almost exploded as I was shock seeing that Hoopsvibe is actually talking about the Spurs instead of the Lakers, Cavs, and Celtics. So please guys stop talking about the Spurs and talk about Lebron who have already won 3 championships and 2 MVPs, (lol, yeah right) instead , so the Spurs can win their fifth championship, while Kobe without Shaq and Lebron are ringless. Mr. Alden can you please delete this post and change your topic to the Celtics or Lakers insteads. Muchas Gracias . | Posted by
Whopper Virgin
on 12.18.2008 | I wont be surprise if the Spurs win their fifth title since they are under the radar like always. I have mad respect for this author who even took the time to mention the Spurs while the whole world are focus on kobe the rapist. . | Posted by
Akeem Mahbad
on 12.18.2008 | The Spurs and Lakers for sure will meet in the Western Conference Finals. I have no doubt in my mind. I won’t be surprise if The Lakers lose because Gregg Poppovich, NBA’s best coach is pissed that they got robbed by the refs and the Lakers were bailed out. Just like what Tupac said revenge is the sweetest joy in life, I think the Spurs agree with him. . | Posted by
Tha French Truth
on 12.18.2008 | Guys you all insane !! Laker team has turned into a beast featuring too much weapons Spurs can’t handle !! For sure the serie will be close if they meet in june !! But there’s no way Spurs beat Lakers on a 4 games-to-win serie !! Even 100% healthy Spurs cannot take down Lakers, Kobe as the go-to-guy, Bynum / Gasol in the low post, Odom off the bench, Radmanovich / Vujacic from long range, Farmar quick as hell, Ariza athletic as hell, you all know what time it is... This is way too much for the Spurs squad, even if they got championship experience, beside they can’t be hungrier than Lakers after disapointing finals...Lakers are just focused on how to win it all nex summer, they D might not be as impressive as Celts’ or Cavs ’ but it’s gonna be just fine on june !! But i agree on the fact no other team is able to send Laker Nation home, Lakers number 1 by far, Spurs number 2 by far when play-off time !!! . | Posted by
Alden
on 12.17.2008 | Mumbai Survivor: I noted that I think this Spurs team is the best since the "new millenium" (2000 on). I say that purposely because, you’re right, that ’99 team was flat-out nasty. . | Posted by
Brooklyn Hustler
on 12.17.2008 | Dont fall asleep on the Spurs. I think if you pissed em off, the Lakers will get beaten the same way Duncan has been kicking their asses in the last 7 years or so. . | Posted by
Mumbai Survivor
on 12.17.2008 | Hey Mr. Gonzalez, it is a disrespect to say the Spurs are better than ever. The team of 1999 was the best ever, with Duncan sweeping Kobe and Shaq, and at 23, won a championship, a FInals MVP award, second in MVP voting, and member of first All NBA Team and first All NBA Defense. Are the Spurs better than last year is a better question? and the answer is yes. Although I am an Atlanta fan, since I grew up in Atlanta, I have grown to respect the Spurs for their respectful temperaments and their skill to succumb to the greatest challenges in the NBA. I literally feel with strong pulses in my heartbeat that they will represent the West. . | Posted by
The Faculty
on 12.17.2008 | The Spurs are making some good run. Tough lost in New Orleans but I see them winning in Orlando. I think the Spurs might come out in the West seeing how they are now gelling after all the injuries. No disrespect to the Lakers, but I see a very strong San Antonio that is healthier and hungrier than last year. I dont guarantee them winning a championship, but I got a wild hunch that they will beat the Lakers in the playoffs. Anyways, I am not a fan of San Antonio but I madly respect them just like the 29 other teams in the NBA. Cavs over Spurs in 2008-2009 NBA Finals rematch! . | Posted by
Celtics Pride
on 12.17.2008 | I actually see the Spurs facing off in the Finals with my Celtics. DUNCAN VS GARNETT is a classic. Sorry Lakers, your team sucks, thats why we beat da hell out of yah ! . | Posted by
King James 23
on 12.17.2008 | Yeah the Spurs are the only ones in the West that can beat the Lakers. And I see the Spurs and the Cavs on the Finals. Wow, this is another great rematch! . | Posted by
Go Lakers!
on 12.17.2008 | Here in L.A, we respect the Spurs because we believe that the closest team to oust the Lakers out of title contention in the West is the Spurs, whether if the Spurs end up in the first or 8th seed in the playoffs. Wish we can trade Gasol, Bynum, and Odom for Duncan. Kobe and Duncan is like Magic and Jordan on the same team...LOL. . | Posted by
Oscar De La Hoya is not a true Mexican
on 12.17.2008 | Everyone tend to forget that Tim Duncan is the best player and the most accomplished than anyone in the last 10 years. There is no way in hell that he will let the Spurs lose again to the Lakers in the playoffs. I truthfully see the Spurs beating them in six games with Odom struggling, Bynum getting into fould trouble, Gasol choking, and Spurs reserves and others like George Hill, Mason, Finley, Oberto, Thomas, Bonner, Bowen, and of course Manu Ginobili outplaying Lakers reserves Farmar, Sasha, Radmanovic, Ariza, Fisher, and Walton. . | Posted by
Prince of Compton
on 12.17.2008 | I agree Prince of Persia. The Lakers, the Celtics, and the public have longed disrespected the Spurs. The Spurs didnt win 4 championships for nothing. But again, they keep winning while people keep sucking up to the Lakers and Celtics. I wouldnt be surprise with the Spurs beating the Lakers. Trust me, the Spurs are a better team in the playoffs than the Lakers. . |
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